Public sector strikes end in propaganda war

The Guardian, 1 December 2011

Publié le :
1 décembre 2011

Dan Milmo, Rajeev Syal and Caroline Davies

"The biggest display of industrial discontent in three decades ended in a propaganda war as unions and ministers traded blows over the impact, with more than six out of 10 schools shutting in England and 6,000 NHS operations cancelled across the UK, but Heathrow airport avoiding serious disruption.

"Turnout became a key battleground after David Cameron labelled the walkouts a "damp squib" amid government estimates that only half the 2 million public sector workers expected by the TUC to strike had taken part.

"The TUC's general secretary, Brendan Barber, hailed "huge turnouts" on an "unprecedented" day for the labour movement as tens of thousands of workers from all corners of the state sector took part in protest marches around the UK."